Climbing, jumping and sliding on the deck

During our rainy days last week, the children enjoyed playing on the climbing blocks, slide and jumping mats. I captured photos of Paige, Marley, Scarlett, Anika, Ahlyna, Seth, Jaz, Milan and Max and Cleo challenging themselves on the obstacles, and working along side each other. There was a lot of encouragement for using paitence, turn taking and 'your words' as all of the children were so eager to have a turn.

It's important that children still have the opportunity to 'burn off some energy' on these rainy inside days.

Ainslee

A new friendship forming

Lately I have noticed that Zoe and Lukah are beginning to form a new friendship. When I arrived on Tuesday morning, the girls were building with the blocks together, and I heard some of the conversations they were having. They were talking very nicely to one another, and showed good listening skills.

After morning tea that day, I saw the girls playing at the play dough table. Zoe has made lots of things with playdough before, and she was showing Lukah all the things you can do with dough.

It's nice to see Zoe and Lukah forming a friendship and enjoying interactions with each other.

Ainslee

Children's Day 2012

Kia Ora whanau

This Sunday 4th March is Children’s Day! This year’s theme is ‘treasure our children' which fits perfectly within our roles of teachers and parents every day!

You are doing the most important job there is. It’s rewarding, but sometimes it’s tough. This Children’s Day we encourage families everywhere to treasure their children. When you’re a parent that might mean:

- Making sure your kids have the things they need.
- Look after yourself so you can be there for them. It’s good to take time out to be you.
- If you’re a dad, there’s so much you can do to make your child feel like a taonga. -
- Learn about positive discipline. This job never came with a manual and knowing some tricks of the trade can make life a whole lot easier.


There are planned events happening all over NZ to celebrate this special day. Some events happening within the napier area are:

Plunket's Teddy Bears Picnic
Where: Anderson Park, by the playground, Kennedy Road, Napier
When: Sunday 4th March, 11am - 2pm
Activities: Bring a picnic and your teddy's and come on down to support Plunket. There will be bouncy castles, face painting, sausage sizzle, mini Hot Rod ride on cars and more!

National Aquarium Children's Day
Where: National Aquarium, Marine Parade, Napier
When: Sunday 4 March, 9am - 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Activities: Free entry to the National Aquarium for children aged 14 years and under with a paying adult. Lots of childrens activities and prizes to celebrate Children's Day!

Visit http://www.childrensday.org.nz/ for more information!

I'll be back soon to post a blog about how KIDSPACE is celebrating this day next week (5-9th March).

Na, Ainslee

Scarlett's dance

Last Monday afternoon I put some te reo Maori music on for the children to dance to. Scarlett wandered down to the art room after her sleep to see what all the noise was. She stood and watched as the older children danced. Once the older children had left she started to dance. She had some very graceful moves mixed with a few break dancing moves too. She danced like this for a good five minutes.

Scarlett, it was a pleasure to watch you dance. You showed great persistence and had an array of dance moves which you were not afraid to show off.

Rochelle

Tea party at Emily and Isabella's house

(Click to enlarge)

Ainslee

Trip to Park Island

Shooting hoops

On Friday morning, while Paige and I were getting the bag of balls out of the shed, we found a plastic ring with a handle, that looked like a hoop when held up. Paige instantly associated it with a hoop for shooting balls, and took an interest. I suggested we find some cellotape and tape it to a wooden post to practice shooting balls in the hoop.

Paige was excited and starting collecting as many balls as she could. Once I had taped it up, I discovered it was actually a big bubble blower... but it still did the trick as a hoop. Paige began throwing the ball up to the hoop, and then got ready to catch it, whichever way it landed.

Within seconds, Rionagh joined in on the ball throwing. Then Libby, Jack, Donnagh and Cian. They were all throwing the ball at the hoop, and suprisingly not getting in each others way. The children knew which ball they had thrown and which ball to chase after. This experience provided the children with the opportunity to practice their ball skills, including, throwing, catching, hand eye co-ordination, balance, throwing over head etc. As well as the social/fun aspect, it was a fun spontaneous experience that the children were able to join in on together. It wasn't just restricted to 3 and 4 year old children; Rionagh showed that she was very confident and competent in throwing the ball too! Tino pai to mahi e tamariki.

I did have a 2 minute video to add with the post but I'm having trouble uploading it. Hopefully I can post it shortly.

Ainslee

Face painting fun

Ruby, Hoah, Emily, Ataahua, Donnagh, Jack, Lexi, Rionagh

One morning, I asked the children 'who would like their face painted?'. "Meeeeeeeeeeee", was the response I got from a number of children. As I collected the paints and brushes, the children crowded around the wooden seating in the middle of the playground. I painted Ruby and Emily's first as they had shown an interest right at the beginning. The whole dynamics of the atmosphere outside, and the children's play changed. As the children transformed into lions, cats, tigers, and butterflies, their imagaination ran wild. The children were roaming around like the animal their face was painted as (most of the children were tigers as they liked what other children had been painted as). The children had the choice of many different colours, so we had yellow noses, purple whiskers, green eyes etc. The children had a great sense of fun, and it provided them with more opportunities to interact with each other and play 'made up' games together.

Ainslee

Re-visiting the paints

The other day I took some photos of Jak playing with the paint pottles on the concrete. This reminded me of the learning story I wrote about Jak's interest in paints, at the beginning of April. After the paints were set up outside, Jak enjoyed choosing a pottle and a brush, and transporting it away from the table. He does this everytime I see him participating in 'painting'. Another thing I documented Jak doing, was eating it!! He had it smeared all over his face... but this time he put his hands in it first, before going in to eat it.

I love watching Jak play, because it shows me the importance of engaging young children in a range of experiences, from an early age. He is curious, inquisitive and confident, and loves exploring, and this is evident in both this photo story and the learning story I wrote in April.

Ainslee

Literacy at KIDSPACE

Lately there has been a very strong interest in reading books amongst the children, and much of the time, this has been initiated by the children themselves.

It was just the other day, that I caught this wonderful example on camera.

Max, Mollie, and Libby spent a lengthy period reading "We're Going On A Bear Hunt", and were able to tell the whole story word for word, and using such wonderful animation in their voices.

Through reading, Children develop an expectation that words and books can amuse, delight, comfort, illuminate, inform, and excite, as well as a familiarity with print and its uses by exploring and observing the use of print in activities that have meaning and purpose for children.

The learning through this experience, links to the New Zealand School Curriculum in the areas of English, the Arts, and Social Sciences.

Monica

Pasta makers

Today the children learnt how to make delicious home made pasta by combining flour, eggs and a little salt together. The children then learnt how to use a pasta machine to make animal shaped pasta.

Using the pasta machine again the children had a turn a making yummy fettucine. Tonight coming home with your child is freshly home made pasta creations is a yummy pasta sauce recipe.

Enjoy, Ann.

Muckin' about in the swing!

Issac and Theo had a busy and active day outside today, enjoying the outdoor environment, and having fun playing along side one another. Later in afternoon, they jumped in the barrel swing and wanted me too push them. While I had the camera out, taking photos, they started pulling funny faces and doing funny moves. So I went with it, and took photos in between pushes. The boys thought it was so funny. Its nice when children can just have a laugh and be silly through their spontaneous play. "Children develop a growing recognition and enjoyment of 'nonsense' explanations and and experiences" (Te Whariki).

A Child's Work

I thought this explanation of what your children learn during the day is a great one, as a child's play is their work. It goes like this.

I am 4 years old!.

This morning I completed 3 puzzles, {one was really hard] and I returned them to the shelf.

I built a garage in the block corner, had a plate of icecream with my teacher in the family corner.

I sang loudly in the music group, and after my fruit and drink went outside where I fully taxed my courage and rather shaky physical skills by climbing over and under and through, and balancing on the obstacle course all by myself.

When mum came to take me home, she said, "Haven't you done any work today?'

HOW COULD I EXPLAIN?.